My MiLB Photo Blog

October 2009

Today I thought I would mix things up a little bit and post my cards that were selected for the Florida State League Top Prospect set from this year. This was my first season shooting alongside Jerry Hale who has been with the Florida State League for the past 5 seasons.

Jerry asked me after last season if I would be interested in helping
him out this year with the league. I took him up on the offer and had a
great time shooting for the FSL this year. I am already looking
forward to next year.

Robinson Chirinos of the Daytona Cubs watches the first of his two Grand Slams leave the park against the Sarasota Reds at Jackie Robinson Ballpark on Sunday May 31,2009 (Scott Jontes/MILB.com)

May 31, 2009 is a day that Robinson Chirinos just might remember for the rest of his life. He accomplished a feat that has not happened in the Florida State league for 50 years. The Daytona Cubs catcher hit 2 Grand Slams in a game against the Sarasota Reds at Jackie Robinson Ballpark in Daytona Beach, FL.

In the 4th inning Robinson came up to bat with the bases loaded and I remember thinking to myself 2 things: (1) I better be ready because he just might hit it out (2) He always gives a nice look coming out of the box. All I can say is that I was right this time on both accounts.

In the 7th inning Robinson came up to bat again with the bases loaded again and he had the same results. He finished the game with 3 hits and 8 RBI’s. It was a career game for him to say the least and in my mind it could not have happened to a nicer guy.

I have been asked a few times since the season finished what is my favorite photo that I took this season. Without a doubt this the one.

Here is the second half of my post featuring the top 20 prospects of the Florida State League picked by Baseball America. The above photo is Ike Davis of the St. Lucie Mets. This was the only game that I had the chance to see Davis before he was promoted to Double A.

#8Ben Revere of the Ft. Myers Miracle -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

I took this photo of Ben Revere in Daytona when the Miracle were in town to play the Cubs. I also had a chance to get some nice shots of Ben in the Florida State League All Star game in Fort Myers, Florida.

#6 Starlin Castro of the Daytona Cubs -Scott Jontes /MiLB.com

I had a chance to get plenty of a good photos of Starlin while he was with Daytona. I took this shot at the last game that I saw him play in Daytona with the Cubs.

#4 Yonder Alonso of the Sarsota Reds -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

This was the only time I had a chance to see Yonder Alonso. This shot was taken at a Sunday game in Daytona when the Reds were in town to face the Cubs.

#3 Dominic Brown of the Clearwater Threashers -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

I had a few chances to see Dominic Brown this year and I am proud to say that this photo was used for his Florida State League Top Prospect Card.

#1 Mike Stanton Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

I did not have a chance to see Mike when he was the Jupiter Hammerheads this season but I did catch a few games when he was with the Suns in Jacksonville.

This week Baseball America picked the top 20 prospects for the Class A Advanced Florida State League. The FSL is the league that I cover the most for MiLB and I decided to post the 16 of the 20 players that I have from the list. In the above photo is Mark Rogers, this photo was taken in the first game that I shot this season.

#18 Shane Peterson of the Palm Beach Cardinals Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

I took this photo of Shane Peterson at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida. I only had the chance to see Shane twice this year, in this game and at the Florida State League All Star Game in Fort Myers.

#18 Chris Parmelee of the Fort Myers Miracle -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

This photo of Chris Parmelee is from the Florida State League All Star Game in Fort Myers, Florida in the Home Run Derby. Chris went on to win the Home Run Derby for his hometown Fort Myers Miracle.

#17 Caleb Gindl of the Brevard County Manatees -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

I had the chance to see Caleb Gindil many times this year. I shot this photo in Daytona early in the season when the Brevard County Manatees were playing the Daytona Cubs at Jackie Robinson Ballpark.

#16 David Bromberg of the Fort Myers Miracle -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

The only time that I had the chance to see David Bromberg this year was at the Florida State League All Star Game in Fort Myers.

#15 Josh Vitters of the Daytona Cubs -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

I got this shot of Josh Vitters at the last home game for the Daytona Cubs this year. Josh is ranked the number one prospect in the Cubs minor league system by Baseball America. He was promoted to the Class A Advanced Daytona Cubs in the second half of the season.

#14 Kirk Nieuwenhuis of the St. Lucie Mets -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

This photo was taken at the Florida State League All Star game. Kirk was the runner up the Home Run Derby.

#13 Matt Dominguez of the Jupiter Hammerheads -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

I had to chance to see Matt Dominguez at 2 different levels this year. This photo was taken in Daytona when Matt was playing for the Jupiter Hammerheads. I also saw him when he was playing for the Jacksonville Suns, who won the Southern League Championship this year.

#11 Austin Romine of the Tampa Yankees -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

Austin Romine was another player that I had the chance to see many times this year. Austin has a chance to go a long way in the Yankees system.

I will be breaking this post into 2 parts because of the number of photos that I have. My next post I will upload the remaining players that I have from the list

Stephen Strasburg in his Florida Instructional League start -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

Well it was just your typical bright and sunny day in Florida today… and oh yeah, Stephen Strasburg made his first start in the Florida Instructional League. I covered the game for MiLB.com and for the mere fact that I wanted to see this guy pitch and I can tell you I was not disappointed that I went. I thought he looked good in his first start maybe just a tad on the nervous side, but can you blame him.

Stephen Strasburg in his Florida Instructional League start

-Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

Strasburg allowed one run and three hits in the 2 innings that he pitched. He started off his pro career by striking out the first batter he faced and had one other strikeout in the first inning.

Stephen Strasburg in his Florida Instructional League start -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

The one thing that surprised me was that there were only a few photographers at the game. One of the photographers I know and he had flown in for the game. There was also a few people from the local papers and some fans but it was not near the amount that I thought it was going to be.

Stephen Strasburg in his Florida Instructional League start -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

I only stayed at the game for a few innings after Strasburg left the game so I could upload my photos to MiLB.com and to start heading home. Below are few of my other photos from the game and be sure to check the photos MiLB used today too.

Stephen Strasburg in his Florida Instructional League start -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

Stephen Strasburg in his Florida Instructional League start -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

Zelous Wheeler of the Brevard County Manatees collides with Paul Vazquez of the Palm Beach Cardinals -Scott Jontes/MiLB.com

I was covering the Brevard County Manatees and Palm Beach Cardinals game at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida when I was able to catch this great play at the plate. Zelous Wheeler barreled into catcher Paul Vazquez at home plate. Vazquez lost his glasses but not the ball and wheeler was tagged out at home for the 2nd time in the game. Below is a few more photos of Wheeler and Vazquez in action from this year.

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